Fishhook snelling machine



Imm 31, 1939. W; 5.. TORRENCE 2945A-39 FISHHOOK SNELLING MACHINE Filed Nov. l2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

. EL i939. w. s. TORRENCE 293,439

FISHHOOK SNELLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1,2, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 mmf, T5@ i TOR/@ENCE INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 tihii'i S'i'rifi Mig PATENT GEHEEL,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and improved machines for Snelling fish hooks.

It is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a machine which will attach to the shank of a hook, a gut or other snell in a more perfect and uniform manner than machines of this type heretofore employed.

It is a further object of the invention so to construct the machine that the same will be practically automatic in its operation.

1t is a further object of the invention to provide a machine which is practically universal insofar as various sizes and styles of hooks to be snelled, are concerned.

A feature of the present invention consists in the provision in a machine of the character above outlined, of a new and novel hook holding means which is of such construction as to adapt the machine for use in connection with hooks of various styles, types and sizes.

Another feature of the invention resides in a novel and simple arrangement of parts whereby the construction of such machine is greatly simplied.

Still another feature of the invention resides in a novel means for attaching the binding or whipping material initially to the hook shank and snell.

Still another feature of the invention resides in a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby automatic stopping of the machine with the hook in the proper position to be removed therefrom, and the parts in the proper position to receive a new hook to be operated upon, will be had.

Other features of the invention relate to certain novel and improved constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood and ap-preciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the accompanying drawings, illustrating a the invention in its preferred form, and the following detailed description of the construction therein shown.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure l,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View of a portion of the feed mechanism,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation, and partly in section illustrating the shaft stopping mechanism,

Figure '7 is a longitudinal detail sectional view of the hook holding means,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the hook holding means,

Figure 9 is an enlarged elevational View illustrating a portion of the hook holding means,

Figure 10 is a detail top plan view on an enlarged scale of the hook holding means illustrated in Figure 9, and;

Figure 1l is a perspective view of the snell holding element.

The machine includes a base l2 from which extends, in a vertical direction, a plurality of spaced standards i3, lli, and l5. Carried by the upper end of each of the standards, thereis a bearing IB and extending longitudinally of the base i2 and rotatably mounted in said bearings lii, there is a longitudinally extending shaft il. The shaft il extends beyond the standard i3 as at le and is provided with one element iii of a clutch, this element I9 being keyed to the shaft il. 2@ designates the other element of the clutch and this element is freely rotatable upon the o shaft il and carries a driving pulley 2l around which passes a driving belt 22. The driving belt may be connected with any suitable source of power such for example as an electric motor (not shown). Carried on the end of the shaft il, there t is a gear 23 and this gear 23 meshes with a relatively larger gear 24. This last mentioned gear 2li is mounted upon a shaft 25 which is, similarly to the shaft ll, mounted in a plurality of bearings 25 in the standards i3 and I5. Having running engagement with the clutch member la, there is a yoke 28 and said yoke 28 is carried by a rod 2S which is mounted for sliding movement in the standards I3, i4, and i5. Adjustably carried by this rod 29, there is an arm @t and this arm depends from the rod 29 as best illustrated in Figure 2. A set screw 3i may be employed to secure the arm in any of its adjusted positions along the rod 29.

When the several parts thus far described are in the position in which they are illustrated in Figure 2, the shaft l1 will be rotated by reason of the engagement of the clutch elements i@ and 2B. To render the shaft l5 inoperative, the clutch element i9 is moved out of engagement with the clutch element 29 and While this may be accomplished by a manual operation, it is preferable to perform this operation automatically and the manner in which this is accomplished Will be hereinafter more clearly set forth.

As best illustrated in Figures 7 through 10, the free end of the shaft |1 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 35. This groove is V-shaped in'cross section and is adapted to receive a hook such as designated by the reference character B, the shank of the hook lying in position in the groove 35. Means is provided to secure the hook in position in the groove and this means includes a disk-like member 31 which is slidably mounted upon the shaft |1 and has a hub lextension 38 provided with an annular channel 33. The reference character 49 designates an anvil or rest for the hook B, and this member is slidably mounted on the forward face of the disk-like member 31. Also slidably mounted upon the forward face of the disk-like member 3'1, there is a clamping element 42. This clamping element and the anvil 49 are secured in their adjusted positions by means of a bolt, screw or the like 43. Once these members are adjusted to any particular style or size of hook, it is unnecessary to change the adjustment until a different hook is desired to be operated upon.

As will be apparent from Figure 7, the anvil 49 has an extension 45 which underlies the hook and spaces the shank 48 thereof slightly from the bottom of the groove 35. This arrangement of the shank 49 provides a space for the reception cf the gut or snell 41. Means is provided to hold the shank 45 in the bottom of the groove, and this means comprises a pivoted member 48. This member 48 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 49 and it operates in a slot formed in the end of the shaft I1. A spring 59 which passes around the pivot point 49 of the member 48, rocks the nose 52 of the member 48 into engagement with the shank 49 of the hook. The member 48 is provided with a plurality of openings 53, with any one of which the end of the spring may be engaged in order to exert the proper tension upon the member 48 to hold the hook shank in position. This construction provides for the proper holding of hook Shanks of various cross sectional size.

Mounted upon the opposite wall of the V-shaped groove in the shaft |1 to that upon which the member 48 is mounted, there is an element such as shown in Figure 11. This element comprises a body portion 55 having an opening 56 for the reception of the screw 51 by which the element is secured to the shaft. The body portion 55 has a reduced right angular extension 58 which lies parallel to the wall of the V-shaped slot and this extension 58 is of a resilient character. The particular purpose of this element will be hereinafter more specifically described.

Surrounding the shaft 25 and slidable thereon, there is a sleeve 6| which sleeve is provided with an exterior thread 62. This sleeve carries a cross head 53, and adjustably secured as at 64 to one end of the cross head, there is a rod 65 which extends through an opening in the standard I4. Connected to the rod 65 as at 66, there is a coil spring 61, the other end of which is connected as at 68 to the standard I3. This spring forms means to urge, at all times, the sleeve 5I to the left in Figure 2, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. By reason of a key and key way 25' and 28 respectively, the threaded sleeve 6| is caused to rotate together with the shaft 25 which is driven by means of the intermeshing gears 23 and 24 heretofore mentioned. Extending forwardly of the cross head 63, there are two rods 19 and 1|. Secured to the forward ends of these rods, there 'is a vertically extending member 12, the upper end of which is provided or formed with a yoke 13 which embraces the hub portion 38 of the member 31 with the forks of the yoke running in the annular groove 39 of said member.

As best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the standard I4 is provided with two guide mem bers 89 and 8|. Slidably mounted in these guide members there is a nut 82 which nut has an open portion 83 for the purpose of embracing the threaded sleeve theretofore mentioned. The nut is provided with athread which coacts with the thread 62 on the sleeve 6| to cause the sleeve to feed forwardly or to the right, Figure 2, as the shaft 25 is rotated. By reason of the yoke member 12 carried by the rods 19 and 1|, the hook securing means 31, will be fed forwardly, or to the right, as the shaft 25 is rotated, and this action feeds the free end of the shank 46 of the hook B outwardly of the free end of the shaft I1 to expose the shank in such a maner that a suitable Whipping or binding may be received thereby.

When the whipping or binding of the hook shank is completed, the T-head 63 heretofore mentioned will engage the arm 39, it being understood that the arm 30 will depend into the path of said T-head and this action will move the rod 29 to the right to disengage the clutch members |9 and 29 and discontinue driving of the shaft |1. By this means, adjustment of the member 39 will determine the extent to which the hook shank is wrapped with the whipping.

Means is provided to disengage the nut 82 from the thread 62 of the sleeve 6| and this means will now be described. By reference to Figure 5, it will be noted that the nut 82 has an extension 99 terminating in a flat face 9|.

Mounted upon the standard I4 as at 93, there is a lever 92 and the lower end of this lever is adapted to engage the flat face 9| of the extension 99 of the nut. By this construction, it will be apparent that when the lever in Figure 3 is depressed to the dotted line position, the nut 82 will be moved rearwardly to disengage the thread 62 of the sleeve 6| and when this occurs, the spring 51 will act to return the sleeve 6| to the position in which it is shown in Figure 2, in order that the binding operation heretofore described may be again repeated.

As best illustrated in Figure 4, the sleeve 6| is slidably mounted upon the shaft 25 and is keyed thereto by means of a key 25', the end 28 of the shaft engaging a collar 21 which is adjustably secured to the shaft by the set screw 99.

Means is provided to at all times bring the shaft I1 to rest with the groove 35 therein disposed uppermost and this means comprises a hooklike member |99 pivotally mounted as at I9! upon the standard I3. This hook-like member |99 is adapted to engage the shoulder |92 on a member |93 which is carried by the shaft I1. The hook member |99 is normally in a position where the shoulder |92 will pass freely. However, there is provided in the rod 29, a notch |96 which, when the rod 29 is moved to the right by the engagement of the cross head 63 with the arm 39, permits the clock-wise movement of the hook member |99 in Figure 6, under the influence of a spring H9, to position where the hooked end of the member will engage the shoulder |02 and thus stop further rotation of the shaft I1. It will be understood that the parts are so related that as the hook end of the member |00 engages the shoulder |02, the shaft |1 will be stopped with the groove 35 uppermost in order that the hook may be readily removed from the groove 35.

The reference numeral ||5 designates a spool of silk or other suitable material with which to whip or bind the gut or snell 41 to the hook shank. As best illustrated in Figure 7 the gut or snell is lead beneath the hook shank 46 as heretofore described, the looped portion of the snell or gut being supported by a standard II'I which is adjustably mounted upon the base I2 as best illustrated in Figure 1. After these elements have been so positioned, the strand ||8 of silk or other whipping material is led through a suitable guide post ||9 and is passed between the hook shank 46 and the gut or snell 41 as illustrated at |20 in Figure '7. The free end of the strand IIB is then passed beneath the extension 58 of the element 55 as best illustrated in said Figure '7, and if the free end be too long, it may be severed against the edge of the extension 50, which may, if desired, be sharpened for this purpose. This construction provides means for holding the free end ||8 of the strand ||8 while the whipping or binding operation takes place, and also provides for its being bound in beneath the binding or whipping upon the hook shank.

After the hook, gut, and binding strand have been positioned as above described, the rod 20 is moved to the left in Figure 2 operatively to engage the clutch element i9 and 20. Immediately this takes place, the shaft I1 will be rotated as will also the gears 23 and 24 and the shaft 25 together with the sleeve 5|. Rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the hook and by reason of the fact that the shaft is fed to the right in said drawings, the strand IIB of the shipping material will be bound around both the shank of the hook and the gut or snell, securely fastening the two together. After the operation has been completed, the strand ||8 is severed and the free end secured to the shank of the hook by a suitable adhesive as is the common practice.

As the shank of the hook is whipped to the desireddegree, the T-head 63 engages the arm 30 and knocks out the clutch as heretofore described. After this has been done, the lever 92 is rocked to disengage the nut 80 with relation to the thread 63 of the sleeve 6| to permit the spring 61 t0 return the sleeve 6| to position against the collar 21'. When pressure upon the lever 92 is released, the spring |25 will move the nut 82 into engagement with the thread of the sleeve 6| and the machine is ready for another operation, it being understood of course that the completed hook is removed from the machine and a new hook to be snelled substituted therefor.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved hook snelling machine which except, for the starting of an operation, is automatic, and while the invention has been herein disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the specific construction herein illustrated, and that it may be practiced in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a fish hook snelling machine, in combination, a longitudinally extending shaft having a free end, a hook shank receiving groove formed in the free end of the shaft, a disk slidably mounted upon the free end of the shaft, an anvil or rest carried by said disk and adapted to support a fish hook, means movable with respect to said anvil or rest to clamp a fish. hook thereon, with its shank in the groove of the shaft, and separate means for engagement with the shank of the hook to secure the same in the shaft.

2. In a fish hook snelling machine, in combination, a longitudinally extending shaft having a free end, a hook shank receiving groove formed in the free end of the shaft, a disk slidably mounted upon the free end of the shaft, an anvil carried by said disk and forming a rest for a fish hook, said anvil being adjustably carried by the disk, a clamping element cooperating with said anvil to secure a fish hook thereon with its shank extending longitudinally of the groove, separate means for securing the shank of the fish hook adjacent its free end in the groove of the shaft, and means for retaining in position, the free end of a binding element, said means being carried by one of the walls of the groove of the shaft and extending longitudinally thereof.

3. A iish hook Snelling machine comprising a base, a longitudinally extending shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means for slidingly mounting a fish hook upon the shaft with the free end of the hook shank extending beyond the end of the shaft, and means for moving the hook holding means along the shaft, said last mentioned means comprising a second shaft, means. for rotating said second shaft, a feed screw slidable on said second shaft and being rotated thereby, a half-nut carried by the base and having threaded engagement with the feed screw to advance the feed screw along the second shaft as it is rotated, a cross head carried by the feed screw, and a yoke member carried by the cross head, said yoke member being operably connected to the means for slidably mounting the fish hook upon the first mentioned shaft to operate the same upon operation of the feed screw.

WALTER S. TORRENCE. 

